I need an opinion from a real pro! Please help me with a preamp

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nando Novais
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Nando Novais

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I play acoustic guitar nylon and I sing latin which goes from slow Folk to Rock style. I am working on a Cd project where I decided to do my vocals (and nylon guitar) from home where I have more time to do retakes and not spend all money I cant afford.

Well I just got a used neumann U87 and about to get a preamp. I found the Focusrite ISA ONE a great price and appears to be simple and great quality. I am looking for a "big" vocal and guitar sound. Would this do the job?

Thanks in advance,
 
Nothing particularly wrong with it...

As a side note, the U87 is probably going to be the weak link. Especially if it's the only mic.

And of course (generally goes without saying but I'm going to say it anyway) the source will only be as good as the space its in - Especially true with overly-sensitive mics like the U87.

Personally (side-noting again)? I'd dump the U87 and grab a decent selection of mics (maybe a pair of FatHeads, SM81's, certainly a SM7b or RE20/27) and a two-channel preamp (at least two channels for that matter). Perhaps the RNP (two channels of quite fine preamp for around $500) so you can at least capture a stereophonic recording of the guitar...
 
Thanks

Thanks John…I truly appreciated your comments. Well I have few simple other Condensers…MXL 4000 and 992. I also have a fast ultra track with octane preamps but probably should be better to get a better preamp and by pass those huh? specially with the sensitive U87….I understand where it can become an issue. I was just not sure what preamp would work for this…my vocals are more smooth…tenor male voice. I even thought about an used avalon 737 or borrow it from a friend but I will check those RNP’s…

Thanks again….


Any more thoughts are also welcome…

Nando
 
if you can borrow the Avalon, while not my favorite, they are usually very pristine, quality sound, should do a good job on both vocals and guitar. While the u87 should work well with your voice (providing you have your room, and mic area treated correctly). You could probably get an ok guitar sound with it but, there are better mics for this purpose, SDC mics usually capture acoustic guitars better than LDC tube mics.

I did recently get a very good guitar sound with a AT4047 mic @ 12th fret though. I still think the SDC mics in stereo are better sounding.
the preamp I'd want to use for your project, cost as much as going into a studio just about.
Universal Audio 2-610S Silverface | Sweetwater.com

any of the preamps I'd stick in front of a u87 , would cost about as much as a 2 day recording session.
 
Thanks ...

Thanks Toastdgoat…

One thing that sometimes I get confused…like the avalon…it has compressor….I will probably won’t use right? ( people dont like them in reviews too…lol). The 2-610 S is the same as UA 610 Solo….just one channel, right? so these 2 don’t have any compression, correct? would that be better like this or to get one strip that would have it all ( with compression)…pehaps LA-610? or the dual one? just a hypothetical question….

The guys from Sweetwater advised me to get either a Millennia HV 3c or even a M101 ( using a Monjave ma-200) …man so many option….it can become confusing…My question I guess is…my style of music requires coloration on a preamp or simply neutral? Would I get both with the US 2-610S?

I will check into the SDC mics too…. thanks!!!

You guys are awesome here….

N.
 
it all is up to you really, any of the combinations you presented would do a good job, I like the warm colorization of the UA stuff, and yes I would probably use the mild compression on a universal Audio preamp or stand alone compressor, but I like them others don't. If you have the options to get your hands on multiple items, a blend of several preamps is not a bad thing sometimes. I tend to like a more transparent preamp on acoustic guitars, the avalon would work well for that, I'd experiment with the compressor. For vocals I tend to like a warmer preamp, but that is just my own preference,.

Recording nylon string Guitar

weird that I like the AT4047 best, the shure sm 81 next, and the shure sm57 next. but it isn't a real shoot out test.
 
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